New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-23
wife was entitled to the divorce. and Judge MerricS
granted II willingly.
MR. WHITNEY WELL PLEASED WITH THEM.

THE nrTHIEUFM IRON CoMPANY's PROPOSALS con-
srpYRED THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS.
WASHINGTON, March % (Speciah.-At noon today
dozen representatives OF American steel manuiac'-
urers and group OF newspaper correspondents
gathered in the Office OF the Secretary OF the Navy TO
witness the opening of bids for steel gun forgings ana
armor plates The proceedings were brief ard simple
On table lay three packages. Secretary whitney
produced certificate from the city postmaster show
ing that all mail addressed to the Secretary OF the
Navy and received up to the hour OF noon, had oesh
delivered. Mr.. Whitney then opened the hfst P snn
Company of Johnsown, PENN for steel gun iorg,ngss
only The bid of the Midvale Steel Company when
came next in order was tor gun steel only rue
third bid was that of the Bethlehem Iron Company,
of Pennsylvania for both gun torgngs ana aimo,
plates After the bids had been duly announced ana
scheduled and while the bidders were reiirlng' Dig
envelope was placed in the hands OF Mr.. Whitney.
who said {" Wait moment, gentlemen. have Jus,
received another bid" The package had been oeiaye
proved TO he the bid OF the Cleveland Rolling Mill
Company tor aTmor plates only The amount was so
much in excess OF the only other bid however as 10
di~pe the shade of anxiety that had begun TO ga,uen
on the face of the representative of the Bethehehi
Iron Company. ,o,o An,
The proposals invited for " about l,3lO tons
OF steel gun torCngs land about 1,JOO tons OF
steel armor plates and appurtenances." IS scheduled
the bids were as follows:
Hamt?t oC%ganS Armor plate ss GTq iifs 80
Cambria Iron Company. 31- IN no
Mdvale Steel COMPANY ,fcio-o--;o 100 go 70
rsHsSs Rollins 5Hn c9 % cg sS SaSo 90
The Bethlehem Iron Company agrees to provide inc
necessary plant, TO begin the delivery OF the gun
forgings required within fifteen months, although Inc
department offers one year and eight months lor
delivery OF iorgngs Tor sixinch guns, ana TWO ,
for eig inch guns two and halt years iot Ten
inch and twelN e-inch guns The company also nes
that its bids for gun iorgngs and armor piaIes 20
considered together according To the ie,is VI 80"
department circular OF August Il, 1856. which ouers
q preference TO the bidder who Will engage 10 IuIH
both gun iorgings and arInor plates. AccomPan! :
this company's bid was n letter. which Secretary
Whitney read with evident satisfaction. Aitcr Puo'-
ing from the circular OF August II, 1880 inc pr
vision that no hid will he accepted unless az com
panied by evidence, salts actory To the department;
that the bidder is in possession OF, or has mace
provision tor plant adequate Tor MS fuhln'h' '.e
company submits statement OF inc means ~
command The company has been engaged 1of u
wear in the construction OF plant suitable Tor inc
manufacture OF all the parts OF the largest guns AM
of shafts which may bc required i0I war 'es'es III
anv size The company has expended on re forging
plant alone between $500. 900 and $lOO,OOO, ana ~
under contract for $500 900 worth OF machinery ana
tools. Financial arrangements have been maze i ,
the 81 800, 900 necessary te complete the plant Tor
both guns and amor plate. The company has con-
tactod with the largest European firms Tor the he'es
sary aid, of patents and superinendence. =,
The Secretary did not attempt to conceal LIS gratl-
fcation AT the result ot the bidding and hs remarks
clearly indicated that the contracts will be await led
the Bethlehem Iron Company. Ar. whitney u VIII
ing also 10 receive all the credit which lac can reason
ably claim on account OF what he regards Us genuine
triumph Among other things he said
Ii occurred TO me last July that instead OF con-
tracing out arnorcd ships in the usual way
the contractor 10 buy the nrmOr tin which case II
would all have been purchased abroad, would put
together the armor for all OF them and all the gun
steel required Tor their armament To see that would
not induce responsible bidders TO undertake the work
In this country. Nothing has occurred in my time
here OF equal consequence TO the new Navy. nat
is the way in which | look at it. You will find II
treated OF In my last annual report
The passage in the statement OF the Betheh IN
EOmpOnV which ~ that aTrgul rfHcuts have httu
completed for procuring abroad necessary aid ETC. Is
understood To refer to the great steel works ~
Creuzot France of which Lieutenant Commander
Barber, OF tho Navy. il Al accredited agent.
There IL 10 lack OF funds TO carry on the proposed
work. By the Act of August 3. 1856, Sl.oO"OVO
was appropriated toward the armament OF the moni
tors and the cruisers authorized 10y that and preceding
acts and -. 300 900 toward the completion OF the
same Vessels. By the Act OF March 3. lSS1, an al
dtonaI appro pration of ~ f2O 900 made toward
the comuction Of the vessels and g. 1908 on
account OF armament.